World Design Capital 2014

Truthful to our mission to regularly monitor the results of our articles on our WP based Semiomantics Scripts in terms of their Google performance, let’s have a look at the latest buzzword especially down here in Cape Town, South Africa: “World Design Capital 2014″! WOOHOO! That’s the award the Mother City received today… and the town is shaking!

World Design Capital 2014 on Google

Despite the fierce competition following the exciting announcement this morning, you see on the above screenshot to which rank exactly my article earlier today – READ HERE -  has made it: Position 3 on Google Top 10! That’s worth a celebration too!

The Importance of being part of a Network

As you may notice, the article is carried up to this high rank through the YORGOO Publishing Network, of which I am a Co-Founder. So far, the article on my Author Blog has made it to page 4… and it will probably continue to climb.

We see very clearly the importance of being part of a Network: whether your article reaches maximum exposure on Google Top 10 with your own blog or whether it’s been carried there through your network – all links and credits staying intact of course – does not really matter here… as long as you get there. From experience we know that – ultimately – the original article makes it there and… it sticks.

This exactly is the interest of everyone who has a product or service to sell online: to be visible on Google Top 10 to attract people looking for them – provided they target correctly in terms of keywords. Being part of the YORGOO Publishing Network has its merits – all our Web Design customers know that and benefit from extra exposure… meaning more traffic… meaning more visitors… meaning more conversion… meaning everybody is happy!

Cape Town World Design Capital 2014

Congratulations: at about 6:30 am South African time this morning, straight from Taipei in Taiwan, Cape Town was awarded the prestigious crown of World Design Capital 2014 !!!

What a feeling! Having seen and been part of the dramatic changes of this amazing country especially since 1994, I can just say: WOW! A very, very happy WOW… and I know Table Mountain has been shaking from all the celebrations… probably it still is!

What an evolution… and if you click on the picture below you see the short video that was  screened at the International Design Alliance (IDA) Congress in Taipei during what was called “… an electrifying announcement of the Mother City’s win”. The brief clip was created by Muti Films with Freshlyground’s young, vibrant and unmistakeably Capetonian Mowbray Kaap music. It’s just a mere glimpse of what Cape Town and its multi-talented people have to offer – so watch out what’s going to happen over the next 3 years! An amazing achievement given the fact that the big cities of the world competed… and considering the shortlisting against Bilbao and Dublin… Earlier winners of the award, that was created eight years ago, were cities like Seoul and Helsinki…

Cape Town World Design Capital 2014

Being “Cape Town World Design Capital 2014″ will bring many advantages for Cape Town!

Besides getting global exposure and attention… and with that free marketing of the highest order, there will be huge economic benefits as the local government will be committed to investing in a better and so much needed infra-structure of the famous garden city – which will in turn benefit Tourism.

And there will be creative solutions! In that respect I like what Fred Roed expressed so well:” Design will be proactively used to bring us together. This award brings an increased awareness of the power of creativity to solve problems – from traffic, to overcrowded townships, to informal trading areas, and to the environment. Thinking creatively brings about positive change, and ultimately profit to society and to business (ask Steve Jobs about that last point).”

A great day for Cape Town! Well done to all who worked so hard for this!

Vote for Table Mountain

As we’re in the official limelight, let’s all Vote for Table Mountain – let’s just do it!

The Importance of Drawing

“Learning how to Draw” should in my view be a discipline taught as early as possible as it teaches young children a fundamental life skill: how to ’see’ and from there think in a focused, simple and clear way. . . ideally beyond the surface of appearances.

The Importance of Drawing

The Importance of Drawing here is that the ability to ’see’ helps to ‘visualize’. . .  and from there to find solutions to any question or task at hand, solving possible challenges in advance. This helps to develop a healthy, natural way of decision making and common sense within the young, sensitive and receptive person . . . and sooner or later a personal Style and sense for Aesthetics.

 

“Dali through my Eyes with Rose” by Bianca Gubalke

Practise Drawing

While you might think this only pertains to the Visual Arts – Paintings, Architecture, Sculpture, Cinema etc and Web Design when it comes to the Internet -, the fact is that being able to ’see’ and from there develop a feeling for what’s essential is fundamental for many other professions where it might be less obvious – be it lawyers,  doctors, sales people, teachers or farmers – just to name a few.

Here as in all disciplines, Consistency and Practice are key. It means one needs to Practise Drawing. . .  just like a pianist needs to play daily or a ballerina does her daily exercises one needs to practise drawing in order to stay visually aware as well as in control of one’s online skills as regards the tools and graphic programs we use when working via the worldwide web.

Personally, I firmly believe that “. . . the more I draw the more I see” . . . which is in fact quite a profound thought. . . but it would explode the topic of this post :)

Online Drawing Tools

While we are all familiar with offline tools to create Drawings – pencil, crayons, pen, charcoal, pastels, brush etc – , equipping ourselves with good Online Drawing Tools to operate professionally online is essential if you want to succeed in Web Design or create more refined Web Graphics and Graphic Art.And believe me. . . although it may sound strange to the newbie and eternal skeptic: online drawing tools are just as efficient and sensitive as their traditional equivalent in the offline environment. . . if not more. It’s totally amazing – but something that needs to be experienced to be fully understood and appreciated.

I recommend simply the best: Wacom tablets. . . find out more HERE. This advice comes from my personal experience and is totally independent :)

Work In Progress

Just as sketches capture ideas and are as such materialized moments and visions of the mind, these Drawings… that seem to have an unfinished touch and often – but not always – are the pre-stadium for some major Artwork…, do in fact contain the essence of what is to follow.

Drawings document the “Work in Progress” – my favourite part of the creative process. . . and as you see above I continue my series of Web Graphics on Salvador Dali. This time I could not resist his beautiful red Dali rose. . .

Dali Quote

“Drawing is the honesty of the art. There is no possibility of cheating. It is either good or bad.”

I just love this one!

It’s yet another great Salvador Dali Quote to learn from. . . even if it’s just to get to know ourselves better :)

Web Design with Passion

No Web Design without a keen eye for Design and Web Graphics… and lots of Passion! Check out some of my Web Design 2010 in my SHOWCASE.

Happy Christmas 2009

Here’s my personal way of thanking YOU for a great year online and wishing YOU a peaceful, happy Christmas 2009!

Happy Christmas 2009

Take some time off, pamper your loved ones, go out and breath Nature to rejoice and refuel.

Design a professional looking Website

Over the past series of articles we looked into the importance of taking our presence on the Internet very seriously, especially if we own a business that we want to brand and expand, and within this context, especially when it comes to design a professional looking Website.

Design a professional looking Website

Many people get a template that appeals to them and start their activities – mainly in posting articles, images, perhaps videos etc – without paying much attention to the ‘behind’ and the ‘visible’ aspect of the website – meaning how efficient it is in terms of Google Top 10 and how much it reflects what the website owner wants to express, thus attracting and keeping the right kind of visitors, readers and potential buyers.

When we develop the concept and design for a professional looking website, or when we revive a website that has been neglected in the past, it’s critical to look at ‘what is’ and put it in relation to what we visualize, based on what we know is being wanted either through a thorough briefing – which is rare – or by knowing the customer and his requirements, or the customer knows our work and style and gives us ‘carte blanche’ to go ahead and deliver the product accordingly.

Boruch Rappaport Author Blog

In our case study and uniquely speaking about the visible part of the Web Design, the client wanted a new Look that he could brand for both his Boruch Rappaport Author Blog  (on a Semiomantics XO Script) and BRap Chronicle (Semiomantics NewsCast Script), his online newspaper blog.

As we went into BRap Chronicle earlier, here now is a ‘before’ and ‘after’ screenshot of  “Boruch Rappaport Author Blog”.

Boruch Rappaport Author Blog Before

In this ‘before’ screenshot of Boruch Rappaport’s Author Blog we see a rather boring background, nothing sexy as a header and many different colour nuances (which may not be too visible here even on the enlarged picture, but the colour codes were dancing!)

We had already published daily in the last 10 days or so and added specially created pictures to go with the basic colours, the chosen font and with the topics.

The important point here is that through the process of editing and publishing I could familiarize myself with the content and the target audience Boruch had in mind. Having produced quite a number of catalogues – especially in the fields of Architecture and Fine Arts – as well as Artist Portraits and Documentaries for the German and European Television in the past, and wanting to serve my clients as well as I can, I believe in taking the time in the beginning to ask all the relevant questions, dig into the material, get a good understanding and from there develop a concept that stands up to expectations – and ideally beyond.

Boruch Rappaport Author Blog After

Here’s the screenshot of “Boruch Rappaport Author Blog After“!

If you followed the progress on this project, you see how things fit together. Also, by chosing our pictures that accompany the articles wisely – or creating them accordingly from scratch – there is an interesting and attractive tension between the background, the Judaica Art on the Slide Show … and the thumbnail in the article.

To underline what I mean, see the harmony of the slide and the thumbnail on today’s post:

Maybe it’s taking things a bit far. . . however, I firmly believe that a sensitive mind picks up finesse in detail and care – and finally it reflects on the Author. It will solidify his reputation and he has peace of mind: his investment was right and it will grow and benefit him… provided there is good daily content (posts) and regular maintenance (updates etc).

The Browser Issue

Finally, an important and widely unknown issue is that when we design a professional looking Website we need to ensure that this website or blog displays properly on both say Firefox and Internet Explorer.

The frustrating ‘browser issue’.

As we are on a Semiomantics XO Script here, we have to simply adapt the header.php and voila! all is fine. When doing this don’t become a victim of the cache as I did. . . change the code, then delete the cache in your blog and finally check the blog or website in Internet Explorer. I wish I had had this Tip before. . .

For more information especially on the specific setup we have in mind for 2010…  very exciting and you want to know for sure. . .  please join us today, Monday, at 9 pm London time in our brand-new MS Conference Room!

. . .

Creating a New Look for a Website

While in the process of Creating a New Look for a Website for our valued customer – or rather for a series of blogs in this particular case – I have been documenting part of the evolution and developments on my Author Blog to give you, my dear readers, some valuable insights as well as share recent knowledge and experience for the benefit of everybody interested in Web Design, Web Graphics and Art especially when developing websites and blogs.

Semiomantics NewsCast

Creating a new look for a website is one thing – but editing and publishing it correctly so search engines find, list and rank the article accordingly is yet another.

As explained previously, the REAL challenge finds place behind the scenes. . . that’s where today’s REAL horsepowers are: on the computer and in your script. Of course, and as on the Internet we are sort of moving on ‘shifting sands’ all the time, you want to add to this knowledge and skills that have to be updated and improved on a daily basis.  In online business there’s no standstill. . . there are just two directions: forward with the trend or getting off the Internet alltogether.

I don’t know what results we would be achieving without Semiomantics… I am grateful that I work exclusively on Semiomantics Scripts myself and so do my customers. Once used to Semiomantics and its outstanding performance – if correctly researched, targeted and published – one doesn’t really want to look elsewhere. If investing money and time plus a considerable amount of effort one expects results – results means visibility on Google Top 10. It may take a while to build the trust of Google – but there is no other way. Yes, Social Networks are powerful and can no longer be ignored and that’s why they were the topic of the past Ycademy November Seminar … but our first focus must be Google.

In our example yesterday we worked on Semiomantics NewsCast – which is basically a very comprehensive online Newspaper script.

Creating a New Look for a Website on Google Top 10

I almost forgot about it . . . to check whether I could find yesterday’s extensive post Creating a New Look for a Website on Google Top 10?

Well, I almost fell off my chair just now – here’s the screenshot of the result – click to enlarge it and see it clearly – . . . a whopping spot 3 ahead of 238 MILLION search returns. . . and there are many Google Ads, meaning this is a hot topic!

A fantastic result – and although I should have gotten used to it . . . it still surprises me!

And by the way. . . the article just below. . .  “Criteria for a Successful Website” . . .  made it to Google Top 10 as well – on two positions that is.

There is a lot hype out there and lots of promises – often at a steep price – to get your website or blog to the top of Google. . .  but who actually does?

I made the exercise a few days ago… following some promises in that respect by ads on the right side of Google. But the question I ended up with was: why didn’t I find them at the top of Google on the left side then?

Again, this is a matter of giving ourselves the right means byinvesting wisely and then it’s all about a consistent focus and regular activity. . .

I will continue to inform about Web Design and Online Publishing.

. . .

]]> http://biancagubalke.com/bianca-gubalke/creating-a-new-look-for-a-website-2/feed/ 0 http://biancagubalke.com/bianca-gubalke/criteria-for-a-successful-website/ http://biancagubalke.com/bianca-gubalke/criteria-for-a-successful-website/#comments Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:30:38 +0000 Bianca Gubalke http://biancagubalke.com/?p=2816

Criteria for a Successful Website

While in my previous posts I went through the best website criteria for a successful website or blog, be it for setting up one’s own online presence or seen from a customer’s perspective, we deepened the understanding in last night’s Info-Call in the sexy new Microsoft Conference Room we are currently testing! WOW! Life and Learning online will never be the same again. . . especially since I no longer stared into and communicated with a “black hole” after doing yet another update of my Adobe Flash Player… all those who were present know what I am talking about and in case you get the ‘black hole syndrome’ you now know what to do :)

Criteria for a Successful Website

The ‘Criteria for a Successful Website’ and their practical application and implementation were the basic driving force behind what was taught over the past 2 – 3 years in the monthly Ycademy Business Building Seminars – strictly online.

Not surprisingly, many loyal and ambitious seminar attendees have meanwhile applied what they learned and start harvesting the sweet financial fruits from their efforts, courage, consistency and investment in terms of time and money.

Customer Statisfaction

Money is one thing, however, what counts even more is the personal reward and recognition we obtain from sincere, enthusiastic customer satisfaction, meaning people who entrusted us with creating and setting up a website or blog for them, respectively for their company – and who suddenly see their webpages emerge from the amorphous mass of nobodies. . . climbing steadily to Google Top 10 and positioning themselves to stay.

“Customer Satisfaction means all to me” said Hanno Coetzee from the famous Gardenroute along South Africa’s beautiful Southern coastline, at last night’s call.

Hanno Coetzee – aka Lalakoi and from good old Namibia as I am – knows his customers and the business they are in since many years – and they trust him. Armed with the knowledge and skill he has attained with Ycademy plus of course the high performing Semiomantics NewsCast Scripts he readily goes the extra mile. . . preferably on a fishing boat or flirting with Miss Gardenroute 2009 in the Mosselbay Casino. . . to find a smart and cost-efficient solution for each client – hand-tailored to his or her requirements.

Success leaves clues and Hanno is happy and proud to provide his customers with the very best: meaning visibility on Google Top 10 where potential clients hang out and look for solutions for their urgent needs.

If the website creates empathy and the product is what they want – why should they look further? With a few products sold the initial investment is covered and from there it’s all profits!

Fortunately for his customers, Hanno also provides an ongoing and essential Maintenance Service at very fair prices to ensure the race horse keeps performing at top speed and his clients have their backs free to focus on what their business is: selling products and services without being bothered by sometimes highly frustrating upgrades, server hickups and other hassles that noone right in his mind would like to even start getting involved with.

Good luck to Hanno and his family Team. . . we wish you many happy customers!

Working from Monkey Valley

“Working from Monkey Valley” has become the working title to discuss the four main criteria when – or rather before – deciding to either create one’s own business website or blog – or to outsource this important task and expansion in case an offline Business Enterprise already exists, to a professional web designer.

We went into the significance of the hidden part – which gives us Visibility on Google to harvest the Traffic we all are in dire need of in order to become profitable or increase profit margins – and the Look, the Image, the Web Graphics and corresponding features and ingredients that people see when they find our website or blog, that hooks them, puts us on their ‘likeability list’ and triggers their reaction to buy from us rather than from the competition.

That’s the game, isn’t it?

We are all in the Fishing business. . . pretty much the same as it is in the normal world. . .

Working from Monkey Valley on Google Top 10

Before we go into the next criterium and just to complete our little exercise and record the amazing results, here’s the latest as to where “Working from Monkey Valley” went on Google Top 10… in fact, it went to Number One!

Results speak for themselves – that’s for Semiomantics Scripts!

Functionality of a Website

The Functionality of a Website or Blog is the third criterium we have to look at.

Content

First and most importantly, the content in form of articles, posts, images, audios, galleries, videos and the like has to be:

> original content (meaning write yourself or hire a ghost writer, i.e. outsource);

> regular (ideally daily, at least in the beginning until you are well positioned, then maintain);

> keyword-related in function of the website (AutoRentSA is about “Car Rental in Cape Town” and not scooters);

> well edited, eg. with the correct headers, tags and categories;

> well published, ideally with the Support of a Publishing Network (eg. YORGOO Publishing).

Additional Software

Secondly and depending on your product or service, you may want to add special additional software, for instance a Shop. Of course, there is a price tag to this as it includes not only the software itself but also license agreements and integration… and then someone spiffy and knowledgeable has to set it up and maintain it on a continuous daily basis.

If for instance kicks and sneakers are being sold like in the case of our friends, Global Sports US, then the latest items, Special Offers and Promotions have to be in the shop under the right and easy-to-find category…. with all the possible choices as to size, colors and blings. . . and ready to be bought with the click of a mouse and a PayPal button by anyone who wants them exactly NOW.

Speed is everything!

It doesn’t end there . . . a shop has to be maintained and sold products need to be replaced – ideally a person of the company familiarizes himself with the software and funtionalities, or a professional is hired – per hour or per unit placed on the shelf.

Time is Money!

As the owner of such a website I have to make my calculation to see what I can or should invest and how fast or at what point I break even. All this needs is a clear keyword-oriented focus on the product to be sold or the Service to be delivered.

In case of a car rental company I may need car leasing or reservation software to automatically check for availability and allow for quick execution of the orders. If on a shoestring budget, I may save these costs by feeding requests via a Contact Form to my Inbox or mobile phone or by integrating a ‘Call Me on Skype’ button and then take care of them personally myself – until the time where my business expands and the investment into relevant software makes sound financial sense.

Interestingly in this connection: in Japan people already pay via mobile devices instead of using the Credit card. It will become a trend everywhere and we have to prepare ourselves for it.

The fact is that since the Internet we have progressively grown into a ‘connected society’ – thus also the emphasis we put on connecting to Social Networks genre Facebook, Twitter and soon Google Wave in our Ycademy Seminars, the finale for 2009 taking place on 12 and 13 December 2009!

The Budget

Finally, it’s all a matter of Budget. That’s our last criterium.

The fact is that people are sick and tired of seeing the same stuff all over; they want to distinguish themselves from the masses; they want their own websites and blogs.

While finding the right web designer to entrust may present a problem, they are prepared to pay the price if the person has a good presence on Google (remember: control your own name…) and has a good track record within this particular field of expertise, and if the product is efficient and proven. Today’s communities and netpreneurs like the personal touch – however, they not only want the looks as was the case in the past, they also want conversion to cash – and this depends largely on the hidden part of the blog, the magic engine that leads to Google Top 10. At a price – there is no way inbetween.

To establish your starting point on your personal “Path to Profitability” it is important that you or your client know exactly:

> what you want,
>where you want to go,
>what your product/s and keyword/s are,
> what your competition does,
> where your target market is and finally….
> what your budget is.

A good website or blog have their price – there is no way around it – however, the good news is that once set up properly and promoted in the way we teach on a consistent basis, you get the money back through sales – and from there it’s just a matter of time: your online business will grow.

Ask Global Sports US – invisible = non-existent before as to the Internet barometer in terms of Google – everywhere they want to be NOW. Of course, with Semiomantics – what else?!

“In a few years’ time you either have an online business or you have no business.”  Bill Gates

You decide where YOU want to position yourself and be ready for the future.

Working from Monkey Valley

When looking at the various criteria we have to consider when developing an online presence or wanting to improve on what we created in the past – either for ourselves or for our customers -, we explained – under the  Work Title  “Working from Monkey Valley” – the first priority: making a one-time investment and getting a good Google Top 10 efficient Script, ideally a Semiomantics version (Semiomantics XO, NewsCast, YORGOO Blaster, YORGOO Booster…).

While there is ongoing Maintenance on any Website or Blog, a Semiomantics Script – once set up properly and fed regularly with well-edited and well-published content – will take care of Search Engine Optimization and much more. At the end of the day it saves you money.

The alternative are Google Ads – costly and only efficient if done on the right keywords and in the right daily density, meaning with a 24/242 visibility or almost.

Working from Monkey Valley on Google Top 10

To immediately make the point and proove both the statements and the SEO efficiency of Semiomantics, we tested our posts on this Blog here and we found entries on Google Top 10 – even a spot 6/10 on the fiercely defended search term “Monkey Valley Beach Nature Resort”. That’s what I call an amazing and unbeatable performance!

Now these were just tests to emphasize that Visibility on Google is our prime objective.

So what comes next on the priority list?

Web Design

The question is: what does someone who comes to our website or blog with an urgent need for something very precise actually see?

Is it what he is looking for? Right there, right then?

Is the Web Design attractive? Does it invite to stay and look for more?

Are there good pictures? A Video? A Gallery? A Slideshow? A Shop? A way to Comment and /or Subscribe?

Is the website or blog user-friendly with easy navigation….?

Does the Web Design trigger Empathy? Trust? Curiosity?

And then… if all those criteria are met and this within just a few seconds – here as anywhere first impressions count – is the relevant information quickly accessible and can the desired product be easily selected (if there’s a choice), and finally. . . bought? Ideally via a PayPal button plus possibly some alternatives?

The Look

I think one does not need to go much more into the Importance of Web Design – especially as it was – and still is -  for many the most important element of any Website or Blog.

The Look is the Show!

Today,  Web2.0 offers everybody fantastic tools and playgrounds for creativity. So there’s lively competition! The Internet Community finally has its own means to present and produce itself in any form and shape… and as close or as far from the ‘real’ reality as can be. . .  as long as one is ‘in’! That’s the ‘trend’ …  and we as business owners or developers have to accept this and adapt if we want to be competitive within a potential 3 billion market:  today – more than ever – it’s all about “the Look”, “the Image”.

The “Brand” and with it the “recognizability” and “reputation” of a large Company represents a major percentage of its market value.

Therefore, with the Internet and its explosive growth as to Social Networks – like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace etc – being the largest and most accessible global platform for visibility, communication, exchange, conversation, ecommerce, online trading and sales, massive budgets are invested on an ongoing basis to keep building and improving the name and brand, to include both the company staff and customer base through interactive features to keep loyalty that ensures smooth internal operation and a never-ending sales stream… and augment it.

This is an ongoing process and it’s no different with individuals like you and me.

Web Design Costs

Everybody knows and accepts that “The Look” has its price: Web Design Costs.

Depending on whether we have to do with an already established Brand – with own logos, banners, colour scheme, fonts etc – or this has to be developed by the Web Designer, costs for the development and personalization of blogs in form of Customation Packs can vary from a couple of 100$ to tens of 1000′s of dollars – and this easily.

Time is Money.

Look at a website and you can tell the cost – it’s like with fashion, it’s all about the material, the quality, the originality, the style. . . and creating this means time… which converts to money for a crucial Service: Web Design.

And who wants to look like his neighbour? You want to express yourself, who you are, what you stand for, what you represent – you are SOMEONE!

All this equalization is not what people normally want; they want to stand out! They want to distinguish themselves from the rest of the world – and rightly so. It’s just a matter of means.

A Professional Online Image

To conclude:

When building a Professional Online Image, Brand and Profile that attracts, inspires Trust and converts Visibility into Cash going the extra mile for good Web design is a good Investment; it’s unquestionable, it’s a Must.

The hidden part of the Blog gives you Visibility on Google and opens you up to Traffic; the visible part attracts, transforms and converts.

But there is more to consider and this topic will soon be continued. . .

Website Themes

Website themes and templates that allow us to create a visually appealing look are what we are looking for when we want to brand ourselves in a professional way on the Internet.

With our own product – the Google efficient Semiomantics XO Scripts – we already get a spiffy SEO optimized technical setup that we then configure according to our needs and preferences ourselves… if we have the complex knowledge and skill. The alternative is to outsource to a professional Graphic Designer.

It’s an important choice and a clear Business decision.

Website Themes

Having created several website themes by now, I know how laborious and time-consuming it is to get through the Coding until the visualized result is achieved, and this under various aspects.

Website Useability

Website useability in general is a crucial consideration in Website Design.

What it means is that Website Themes need to be customer-friendly and reader-oriented in various ways and on different levels for diverse needs.

Screen Resolutions

It starts with the simple fact that not everybody online sees the same; we all have different screens, different resolutions, different settings and different programs alltogether. Not to mention different browsers…

While I find this very disturbing as a graphic designer, I have to accept it and find the best way to offer my content, pictures, media… brief everything I show on my website in an optimal way to a maximum of readers, visitors and existing as well as potential customers.

As I now have a 23 inch screen, I know what I missed before… but also the constraints for everything I am doing in terms of Web Design.

While I personally love a highly aesthetic website design that leaves room for discovery – as I did on yesterday’s ‘beaming’ website theme – I am aware that while the web design is perfect for a photo blog, it’s not ideal when offering good web content – meaning that the ease of reading in that case was only possible through scrolling. It’s a little detail, however, it may cost a reader.

Therefore, minus points in terms of mere Web Design.

Just as the website navigation system should allow for easy and intuitive navigation between the different sections of a site, the typography should allow for fast reading in terms of color and fonts… and having almost black fonts on black, even if only partially, is in my view extremely sexy – yeah, it’s artistic and Dali would love it – but not appreciated in the fast & easy my brain got lost in the gym environment.

[singlepic id=66 w=460 h=371 mode=web20 float=]

New Website Theme

Bearing the above in mind, I created a new website theme that solves the above issues while being elegant and totally in sync with my Brand – up to the subtle floral background based on a picture from my garden that I prepared in Photoshop.

Just the Bee missing, but be assured I’ll get to that one too :)

Bianca Gubalke Logo

Even the Bianca Gubalke Logo had to be slightly adapted in its nuances for maximum harmony with the delicate color scheme. Again, it’s always a matter of details and lots of work and testing until the desired result is achieved. And at the end it looks soooo easy. . . so obvious!

Simplicity so often if not always has a hidden history of lots of learning and doing it over and over again… until! Practice and Experience leads to Mastery…

As a next step I will have to think of Social Networks and adapt my Twitter account… no boredom ever – guaranteed!

Branding your Website

Branding your Website sounds like the grand finale of something elaborated over time… and yes it is! However. . .

Branding your Website

Branding your Website is a prerequisite for building your online business, any business in fact.

As such, it is also a beginning, meaning the start of  ‘YOU’ as you wish to present yourself to the online community, to people you know and people you don’t know, reflecting who you are and what you wish to express – brief: your presence on the Internet.

Once there, forever there – it cannot be erased !

Branding on Social Networks

Branding on Social Networks means that you give yourself the same image wherever you go so people start recognizing you or your brand. On most Social Networks you are given ample opportunity and space to express and present yourself… so you wish to align everything you do in order to be easily recognized – and you can go retro, fun, classy, grunge, jazzy or wild… whatever you want, as long as it reflects a professional image. Your online fingerprint

While I still have work to do in terms of Media, my Author Blog is branded… and if you follow through the various posts and web graphics you see how my preferred colors were always interwoven with what I did and you’ll recognize a personal style that’s independent of colors and fonts.

[singlepic id=65 w=460 h=291 mode=web20 float=]

It is simply terrific to see the laborious route we’ve taken on the “Path to Profitability” in our sophisticated daily Trainings and exclusive Ycademy Seminars month after month, year after year…. up to a point now where – like any major Corporate Company – we are building our own image online. The Internet levels out the playground between the Davids and the Goliaths and for all those who have been following, learning, applying and implementing with courage and consistency what was taught over the years the image and presence of the business concerned will be built solid and aligned with a longterm vision for success and fulfillment… and this within a fascinating environment: cyber space!

Here’s my Brand look on Twitter. . . although I am not happy with the quality of the screenshots; the red just bleeds…

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Branding your Online Newspaper

Branding your Online Newspaper… where in fact this mysterious journey into the ‘Secret World of Code’ started – in my case Touch Vision Talk on a Semiomantics NewsCast Script – will be part of the Ycademy October Seminar to be held this coming weekend.  Not everybody was ready for even thinking of Branding… thus we now have a second chance to bring everything we do online in line. Including our Online Newspaper.

In the planned Workshop, we will get hands-on expert guidance on following through with the complex Coding and applying our Branding touch in terms of Web Design and Web Graphics to our Online Newspaper.

Another exciting weekend not to be missed – absolutely not!

Wegobiz Media Marketing

“Wegobiz Media Marketing” is a domain name I neglected over the past years; time to get it up and running. . . of course on  on Semiomantics XO, what else!

Wegobiz Media Marketing

Wegobiz Media Marketing will be focusing on topics like Media, Publishing and Marketing – everything that makes us tick on the Internet plus many exciting excursions into Web Design and Graphic Images and everything the future holds for us in terms of Media. Having just installed Windows 7 with its many media-related features will allow us to explore lots of interesting new aspects that will find their reflection on this new old website!

Wegobiz Media Marketing Colors

In Wegobiz Media Marketing I will stick to my favorite color scheme since decades: white, black, silver and a hot passionate shot of REAL red!

As most customers prefer a more colorful palette when it comes to Web Design, I will also continue experimenting with other color combinations and fonts depending on the topic or expectations of my clients. However, as was the case with my book and catalogue designs in the offline world in the past, I will always endeavour to ensure that the style is recognizable in the virtual world.

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I am not too happy about the quality of the screenshot though, rather see it HERE.

Wegobiz Media Marketing Fonts

I like this stunningly beautiful Grunge Font within the rather sober context; it just adds that bit of feminine flair that I need…  like the fluff of a red exquisite accessoire on a simple yet elegantly cut black and white outfit or dress… remember Coco Chanel, she set an example I always admired.

Wegowell Publishing

Wegowell Publishing was lost and no longer seen… but it will hopefully be completely regained as Neil Dimanond sings… in other words: it was rediscovered, totally cleaned out, upgraded to 2.8.4 on Semiomantics and brought onto a new path to Google Top 10 today!

Wegowell Publishing

While wegowell.com was initially planned for quite another purpose, our plans have changed and the new “Wegowell Publishing” will be focusing on Media, Communication and Design – all topics I have been writing about, with an emphasis on Web Design and Web Graphics as part of Design.

Wegowell Publishing Logo

To relax a bit from the boring clean-out, I started experimenting and designed a picture that could well be the start of a sexy Wegowell Publishing Logo.

What interested me here was firstly the background design with its original color array; I hope it’s not only my new screen that gives me such sparkling colors :) You may have guessed right: I created it from an original picture I took in my garden.
Secondly, I wanted to achieve an interesting tension between two sets of fonts, of which one should be in the initials in big – WP for Wegotop Publishing – and in transparent fonts.

Transparent Fonts

Transparent Fonts are achieved when playing with the many effects in the Layer Style Options of Photoshop.

I am not aware whether transparent fonts are available otherwise, but here practice makes perfect and the more we know our tools and exercise with the diverse options, the better the results achieved.

I never really focused on transparent fonts this consciously before, so I had to find my way through the jungle of fine effects and nuances of light and shadow. . .  and there’s room for improvement.

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What is fascinating is always what we find along the way when actually looking for something else… and so Photoshop never stops to surprise and amaze me; it has its price, but it’s simply a magnificent program!

I will come up with some other variations for Wegowell Publishing soon!

Guinea Marketing

Guinea Marketing was just an example to demonstrate the route that needs to be taken when looking for a name to brand.

Guinea Marketing on Google

Once a domain name is found and a blog or web site setup, the prime objective is visibility on Google – focus Google Top 10.

What count here is the Domain name (but not necessarily), an efficient Script – Semiomantics ideally as in my case here -, smart Editing and spiffy Publishing.

Guinea Marketing on Google – the proof within less than 24 hours and on 13,6 million search returns:

Editing Skills

Whatever we do on the Internet and at whatever level we may consider ourselves to be, we have to continue learning and improving in all sorts of areas – this will never stop. And it’s exciting as it constantly keeps us on our toes, offers new challenges and has our little neurons dancing!

Editing Skills will be the focus in the Ycademy October Seminar; so if you wish to refine your knowledge and skills, make sure you get a ticket in time HERE.

Guinea Marketing

“Guinea Marketing” – what is that?

Did you ever hear of a thing like that? Plus a noisy guinea fowl – you sure can’t miss hearing that one – with or without sound!

I beat this caught your attention!?! So what’s Guinea Marketing all about?

Guerilla Marketing

Having used the picturesque and typically African guinea fowls as a background in both picture and sound in Audios and Presentations on Auctiontalk LIVE, it was just natural to sooner or later think of  “Guinea Marketing” as a possible Marketing Brand – a creative thought process stimulated by a picture of a guinea fowl in the rain in my garden.

I immediately felt the probably quite marketing efficient proximity to “Guerilla Marketing”.

Therefore, before getting too excited… and as a normal and essential next step when choosing a name – any name -, I had to check what else there was on the market, whether the name was taken, and by whom… and of course, I had to refresh my memory on the concept of Guerilla Marketing.

The quickest way to find out is to look at wikipedia, which explains is as “… an unconventional system of promotions that relies on time, energy and imagination rather than a big marketing budget. Typically, guerrilla marketing campaigns are unexpected and unconventional; potentially interactive; and consumers are targeted in unexpected places. The objective of guerrilla marketing is to create a unique, engaging and thought-provoking concept to generate buzz, and consequently turn viral. The term was coined and defined by Jay Conrad Levinson in his book Guerrilla Marketing. The term has since entered the popular vocabulary and marketing textbooks.

Guerrilla marketing involves unusual approaches such asintercept encounters in public places, street giveaways of products, PR stunts, any unconventional marketing intended to get maximum results from minimal resources. More innovative approaches to Guerrilla marketing now utilize cutting edge mobile digital technologies to really engage the consumer and create a memorable brand experience.”

I like this. . . it’s spontaneous, it’s imaginative, it’s modern… and if you’ve ever seen one guinea fowl create a BUZZZZZ you know what I mean… and you’d agree it’s a funny and very apt presentation!

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Guinea Marketing

But of course, “Guinea Marketing” was already taken… and while I immediately thought “guinea fowl” there’s the state Guinea… and Guinea Marketing has 12.7 million returns on Google – so that was that.

Digital Advertising

My point here is that in real life as in Digital Advertising – whenever we create or choose a name that we want to brand and build -, we need to first do some thorough research and based on the results make an informed decision.

New Web Design for Auctiontalk Live

Blue is definitively not the same blue on various computers even if you think code is code… that’s yet another experience I made today when checking my new Web Design for Auctiontalk Live on a friend’s Apple Mac.

On the other hand, my relatively new Web Design Blog came with a sharpness and lightness in all its artistic details that was just  mind blowing – whereas these details were missing on other blogs, eg. where I worked fine vertical lines into a grey degrade background like HERE. They were simply gulped up – gone!

New Web Design for Auctiontalk Live

Also, unless you sit in a relatively dark room without reflections on your screen… it’s not an easy one to get all those fine color nuances right… and who wants to shut out the sun once it has finally made its long overdue appearance … and this on a Sunday?

Besides, what looks just perfect on one screen doesn’t mean someone else sees it in the same light and resolution… not to mention color blindness… and there goes that special finesse you’ve spent so much time and effort on!

However, the more one tries the closer the optimal result – there is no other way… and experience makes master.

So I continued exploring more color variations for the background of the New Web Design for Auctiontalk Live – which was quite a tricky one as while I wanted to eliminate a tick of red I did not want to lose the luminous wiry design and still have a blue that worked as a good background to my gold to red font colors, which I did not change.

So above you see the  slightly different version.

New Web Design for Auctiontalk Live

Following our various Workshops and Ycademy Seminars and as creating and then experimenting with Opaque as well as Transparent Backgrounds and combining them with exciting Fonts, I was inspired to attack my ‘oldest’ yet ‘goldest’ Blog, namely AuctiontalkLive.

AuctiontalkLive is getting a new Design by Bianca Gubalke

New Web Design for Auctiontalk Live

Auctiontalk Live runs on a Semiomantics XO Script and has a history of success on Google Top 10 since its inception.

In my eyes… and as Media Marketing oriented, this Blog deserves the color blue in combination with gold to red. I decided not to squeeze in any other color – like green for instance, to keep to the symbolic RGB … or grey, which always brings in an additional touch of elegance – I kept it to 3 colours and am quite happy with the result so far.

Adding Fonts

I did struggle a bit with the font burner and put it into the deleted folder until I am back from my appointment later this afternoon… so I will pick it up from there and work on adding fonts for the headers. By then my eyes and my memory may have come back to reveal the secret of where on earth we uploaded the additional fonts on the server.

Any helpful comments would be appreciated :)

AdSense

I took off AdSense as well and will see how I can adapt the transparency of the background and the color of the Google Ads Fonts. They must integrate – or they must go!

To be continued. . .

Transparent Fonts

My Transparent Fonts are well on their way up on Google Top 10 – thanks to the Semiomantics XO Script performance!

Transparent Fonts

Transparent Fonts integrated in an African Seascape I created from scratch.

In this variation I researched Transparencies in different ways – water, water ways, distant horizons… brief:  space and time.

And the experiments with transparent fonts and transparent backgrounds continue. . .

Transparent Fonts

Transparent Fonts are easily achieved by creating a stroke around the font itself  (Edit > Stroke) and then varying the opacity of the typography layer itself by playing with the percentages – just as I showed in my previous post.

Transparency follows Imagination

All layer-based graphic programs – like Photoshop – allow us endless possiblities to play with varying opacities.

While President Barack Obama was just awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. . . whoever discovered the ‘layer principle’ and made it available to all of us deserves a Genius Prize… I thank that person daily!

'Circle Experiments' with Nostalgia and Grunge !

This picture here is just another variation of my basic simple  “Circle Experiment” – where I started off with a single circle and just added more and more until I ended up with an interesting Graphic Design – this time a mixture between Nostalgia and Grunge sealed in HOT RED and dripping all over :)

I played with filters, transparencies, colours and light adjustments to create more variations… and then I went into extracts and details.

Transparency follows Imagination… and I love being surprised and astonished by it!

Transparent Fonts on Google Top 10

“Transparent Fonts” as a keyword on Google has a whopping 57,3 million returns – and my article from a few hours ago today is on Google Top 10. . . just after Auctiontalklive and Yorgo Nestoridis!

Amazing. . . but not good enough as I cannot take a good screenshot with everything visible at the top plus my post at the bottom of page one, I’m just too far down! Or I need another screen. . . a vertical one HA!!!

The alternative?

Let’s see if we can move up a little and show, once again, the power of Semiomantics XO!

Let me post quickly and you keep your fingers crossed :)

. . .

Transparent Fonts

Following my experiments with transparent backgrounds, I continued to research more lightness by playing with Transparent Fonts.

Transparent Fonts

In this example I created Transparent Fonts for my Header Graphic.

I was interested to see how the transparency of the font would impact on the Grunge Font I am using here… and whether this would add to the sense of visual flow within the overall ‘liquid theme’ I created in this Blog. I added a gradient as well to achieve that effect.

Transparency Gradients

In the following example, I increased the opacity of the red gradient to 80%.

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Stroke Effects

It’s all about details… and experimenting until the desired effect or result is achieved.

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Above here,  I took off the stroke around the transparent fonts… however with the red at the bottom, the typography is perhaps a little heavy, like sinking downwards… and I want it to flow harmoniously along.

The only way to see is to try a different version… so here I turned the transparency gradient around:

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WOW! Interesting “Design in the Mist” … so to give it a bit more stability without being too harsh, I re-activated the Stroke Effect, however with only around 50%.

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I’m quite happy with this version although I could continue endlessly with the “Transparent Fonts” theme, especially as I love everything around Transparency, Luminosity, Transition, Transformation and the rest of that incredible lightness of Being . . .

So I’m never finished… !

. . .